Trump Visits Dover AFB to Greet Arrival of Body of SEAL Killed in Yemen, Senate Confirms Rex Tillerson, Miami Beach Police Fight for License Plate Readers on State Roads: P.M. Links

• 

  World Economic Forum

  President Trump made an unnannounced visit to Dover Air Force Base to greet the body of a Navy SEAL killed in a counter-terrorism operation in Yemen. National Security Advisor said Iran was "on notice" after a ballistic missile test that appeared to be in violation of a United Nations resolution.

• The Senate confirmed Rex Tillerson as secretary of state. Sen. Lisa Murkowski (R-Alaska) became the second Republican to say she would vote against the confirmation of Betsy DeVos as education secretary. Democrats say they're not ruling out a filibuster of Supreme Court Justice nominee Neil Gorsuch.
• The Federal Reserve said sentiment was "improving," but decided not to raise interest rates.
• The civil war in Yemen erased a decade's worth of health gains, according to UNICEF.
• Parliament approved a bill to permit Prime Minister Theresa May to trigger Article 50 and begin Brexit negotiations.
• A corruption scandal surrounding French presidential frontrunner Francois Fillon forced up French borrowing costs; his primary rival is the National Front's Marine Le Pen.
• Former United Nation Secretary General Ban Ki-moon won't run for president of South Korea.
• Police in Miami Beach want to install license plate readers on all state roads.

Comments

[Pay up, Palin's Buttplug!]

Ed is on time!

[Pay up, Palin's Buttplug!]

And with alt-text!

[Juvenile Bluster]

And yet you couldn't put anything in to make this an official first. Sad!

[Pay up, Palin's Buttplug!]

I just want shreeeeeek to see a little reminder that we don't know if he really paid his bet first thing.

[Rufus The Monocled]

Hello.

Lisa hates the children.

[DEG]

Hello.

[bacon-magic]

It's official! Grats, Pay Up!

[Slammer]

World Econimic Forum

Fail

[PapayaSF]

And "secretaty of state."

[Zero Sum Game]

On time and under budget. No brakes on the train. Shitpost like it's unregulated and untaxed!

[Fist of Etiquette]

President Trump made an unnannounced visit to Dover Air Force Base to greet the body of a Navy SEAL killed in a counter-terrorism operation in Yemen.

Hopefully it will wake him up to the costs of warfare.

[Citizen X - #6]

Does he know where his bombs are falling?

[Fist of Etiquette]

His Twitter bombs always hit their mark. He can stick with that.

[Zero Sum Game]

140 character weapons of mass destruction. Heads exploding everywhere. Start the impeachment hearings now!

[Chipper Morning Wood]

Weapons of mass abstraction.

[Suthenboy]

As I recall the man said he was not going to have us mucking around in places we didn't belong. I hope Yemen is on that list. Get us the fuck out of there.

[paranoid android]

I'm not sure how to break this with you--you might want to sit down for this one--but sometimes, politicians promise things to people they want to vote for them that they have no intention of following through on.

I know! I was surprised as well.

[OneOut]

As of yet Yrump has shown no inclination to sbandon his campaign promises.

[x'); DROP USER Tony;]

Bombing Yemen was literally one of the very first things he did as president.

[ant1sthenes]

There's Yemen the "civil war" (because calling it a Saudi war against Yemeni Shiites would be an inconvenient truth), and then there's Yemen the lawless area where ISIS and Al Qaeda operate with impunity. I don't think Trump ever promised he wouldn't retaliate against groups that attack the US.

Now, he certainly may get dragged into the Blood War or World Police stuff and disappoint everyone, but I don't think this is an example of that.

[DEG]

Nothing about Sloopy's mom?

[Tonio]

^This.

[Private Chipperbot]

Or, perhaps, highlighting the not quite a retraction of a post from earlier today.

[DEG]

Oh? Which one? I missed that.

[Private Chipperbot]

For a site called Reason...

[bacon-magic]

Huh. *gets coffee and thinks about cocktail parties

[Chipper Morning Wood]

Bacon-magic, what did learn about too much coffee?

[bacon-magic stands w/sloop]

I'm a hard learner. *bounces off walls

[Rufus The Monocled]

Huh.

[Trshmnstr, stuck in this can]

The "Trump killed Grandma with he EO" one. Turns out Granny was dead a week before the EO.

[DEG]

Ahh... thanks Private Chipperbot and Trshmnstr. I had the article queued up to read but hadn't read it yet.

[Sumio Mondo, Jr.]

His horrid rhetoric caused her health to spiral irretrievably downward. Whether she died here or there, TRUMP KILLED HER.

[Slammer]

Also Trump killed these people:

Conor McCormick ? @ConorMichael28
Too early to know if #Quebec mosque shooting was perpetrated by right-wing extremists. If it was, then this is result of Trump rhetoric.
9:48 PM - 29 Jan 2017

[Rufus The Monocled]

I posted that exact same Tweet.

[Slammer]

Hmm. Sorry.

[bacon-magic stands w/sloop]

Don't say sorry to a Canadian! That's a challenge to a duel up there. Rufus will be dropping gloves and heading your way. You better start looking about.

[DEG: sloopy's mom story soon?]

"Sorries to the death"

[bacon-magic stands w/sloop]

"Hockey sticks at dawn, eh?" *drops gloves* *puts on skates*

[Slumbrew]

You should feel lucky he's dropping those gloves - the smell! You have no idea...

*has friends who play hockey*

[rts]

Just another taqiya sunrise.

Man, I got a million of these.

[Just Say'n]

http://www.fox2detroit.com/new.....3942-story

Turns out Reason posted fake news today about the woman who died in Iraq as a result of Trump's refugee ban. Trump Derangement Syndrome does funny things to people.

[GILMORE?]

SF'd it

Here it is

Man who claimed mom died in Iraq after Trump's ban lied, Imam confirms

DETROIT (WJBK) - The leader of a mosque in Dearborn has confirmed to FOX 2 that a man who claimed his mother died in Iraq after being barred from returning to the United States under a ban instituted by President Trump this weekend, lied to FOX 2 about when her death occurred.

Imam Husham Al-Hussainy, leader of the Karbalaa Islamic Educational Center in Dearborn, says Mike Hager's mom did not pass away this weekend after being barred from traveling to the United States. The Imam confirms that Hager's mother died before the ban was put in place.

After the story aired on FOX 2 and was posted on FOX2Detroit.com, we received many questions about the validity of Hager's claims that his mother died waiting to be approved to come home. FOX 2 has confirmed that his mother died five days earlier.

According to Al-Hussainy, Hager's mother had kidney disease and was receiving treatment in Michigan - where she lived - before traveling to Iraq to visit family. The Imam said she passed away on January 22, 2017, five days before President Trump instituted the travel ban.

[Pan Zagloba]

They at least updated the post...

[DOOMco]

I don't know if that really counts as an apology.

[Slammer]

Oh man, that's hilarious.

[Apatheist ?_??]

I hope the delay is because they are preparing a full on investigative article.

[$park? is totally a Swifty]

No offense to sloppy, but do we have to care about his mom?

[DEG]

You don't have to care. I chose to.

[bacon-magic]

You don't have to, but then again you would be lumped in with(collectivist!) amsoc and other trolls.

[Tonio]

Sparks, apparently she was beaten by police while she was providing medical attention to a collapsed athlete. So even if you don't care about her personally, this is a legitimate topic of libertarian concern.

[bacon-magic]

^this

[Tonio cares about Sloopy's Mom]

Thanks.

[bacon-magic]

^Awesome name change

[Trshmnstr hates nurse beaters]

Everybody should append support for Sloopy's mom to their handles.

[Basketball Uber Alles, Jr.]

Done!

[DEG: sloopy's mom story soon?]

Done

[bacon-magic stands w/sloop]

Done

[bacon-magic stands w/sloop]

I gotz me duh orange name in honor of our new President too!

[Morning Wood for Sloopy's Mom]

Done

[Slumbrew]

I... uh... I'm not quite sure...

[bacon-magic stands w/sloop]

Woah...morning wood went there. *applauds* *boos* *applauds again* *hisses*

[DOOMco's Ref Chipper]

BAM

[bacon-magic stands w/sloop]

I've been here too long, I read your link as alt right instead of all right.

[Tyler.C Sloopy's mom matters]

Done

[Slammer]

Done

[Slammer wants a SloopMom Story]

Done for real this time...I think

[Tonio cares about Sloopy's Mom]

Good work, gentlemen, good work.

[Tyler.C]

I care

[Riven]

Tell that to Reason.

[Basketball Uber Alles, Jr.]

I can't follow the threading; what was that in response to?

[Riven]

Tonio|2.1.17 @ 4:41PM|#

Sparks, apparently she was beaten by police while she was providing medical attention to a collapsed athlete. So even if you don't care about her personally, this is a legitimate topic of libertarian concern.

Bolded the exact statement I was replying to.

[Basketball Uber Alles, Jr.]

Thanks!

[Riven]

Anytime!

Don't get the regulars started on threaded comments; it'll be all frothy/dusty in here in no time for sure.

[DEG: sloopy's mom story soon?]

it'll be all frothy/dusty in here in no time for sure.

Dusty... like sand... abrasive. Stick with slick things.

[We are all Sloopy's mom (RBS)]

Was there a story? I've been doing actual work lately and avoiding all the TDS.

[Riven]

Reason hasn't posted a story, no. Not sure why since it's really their bag, but... Well, if you want the basic story, there's some comments below.

[We are all Sloopy's mom (RBS)]

Yeah, I could have kept scrolling...

[Trshmnstr hates nurse beaters]

Nope

[DEG: sloopy's mom story soon?]

Was there a story? I've been doing actual work lately and avoiding all the TDS.

I've seen nothing.

[tarran]

When I last communicated with Sloopy he indicated that he'd not heard anything from Reason and didn't expect anything further from them.

[OneOut]

"Do we have to care....."

Of course you don't have to. Actually many of us here don't expect that you would and aren't supprised if you dont.

I do. I cant think how furious I would be if some punk fucking cop did that to my mother when she was alive. I truly might be in jail by now.

I respect his self control.

[tarran]

If that were my mom...

The punk ass bitch who smashed her face first in the ground would be getting a all expenses trip to a spa in the Everglades complete with a baseball bat massage, a duct-tape facial, a full-body wrap with hefty contractor bags and some more duct tape, and then a chance to frolic with the local alligators.

[ant1sthenes]

Reason can feel free not to, but they might not want to trot out her grandkids for their next begathon if they don't.

[Pay up, Palin's Buttplug!]

Maybe I should change my handle to "What about Sloopy's mom, Reason?"...

[Tonio]

That would be a good idea.

[bacon-magic]

Or "Facist of Etiquette" in honor of your first? today.

[What about Sloopy's mom?]

Too long? anyone got a link to a news story about it?

[DEG: sloopy's mom story soon?]

Sloopy might have more recent news coverage.

One story

The other story

[bacon-magic stands w/sloop]

Wait a minute...Spicer...Sloopy is WH press Sec?!! Sweet! *grabs industrial strength foil

[Certified Public Asshat]

Sorry for Sloopy's mom...

The writing in the second article though:

RHHS won 59-42.

"No one has the right to come on the court and put a hand on the official and address him, during or after a game," said Faber.

Turner was escorted out of the gym by EMTs and received a standing ovation while exiting.

The Jaguars led the entire game.

[Riven]

Right?

I don't even know where to start.

[sloopyinTEXAS]

What does that have to do with anything? The official isn't God. She has every right as a first responder to stop the game if it is impeding the care of a semi-conscious person having a medical emergency on the bench a few feet from the court of play.

Also, he was in violation of SCHSL rules for not stopping the game and has been suspended for the rest of the year.

[Slumbrew]

I think we're all on your mom's side, Sloop - just pointing out the awful fucking writing.

[Celexis]

Same Cop?

If so, that should make you feel a little better.

[sloopyinTEXAS]

If I read that wrong, I apologize, CPA. It almost seemed as if you were saying she had no right to try and stop the game.

[DOOMco's Ref Chipper]

We got your back, Sloop.

[Certified Public Asshat]

Slumbrew is right, no worries Sloopy.

[sloopyinTEXAS]

Sorry, man. I'm a little jumpy.

[Morning Wood for Sloopy's Mom]

We all stand with you, brother. Solidarity!

[OneOut]

You have the right to be.

[sonofmombeatenbycopsinTEXAS]

I know but I want to keep my reputation for sober, courteous discourse on here intact.

[We are all Sloopy's mom (RBS)]

Your mom lives in Jasper Co.?

[sonofmombeatenbycopsinTEXAS]

They're in Bluffton. The game was in Jasper Co.

You know it?

[We are all Sloopy's mom (RBS)]

I have a client with several business in Beaufort Co. so I'm down there frequently.

[sonofmombeatenbycopsinTEXAS]

Email me. Maybe there's a connection there.

[Half-Virtue, Half-Vice]

Well man, I hate using my real name on the internet and never comment on FB or do FB linked internet comments. But for the sake of your mother I unloaded on that POS author who defended the police and referee, by glossing over the unnecessary brutality.

[sonofmombeatenbycopsinTEXAS]

And she even told me in a personal email that she thought it seemed a bit excessive and that the official should have stopped the game earlier.

But she didn't report it because she said she doesn't think it's right to report opinion.

So she will not print what her own eyes saw or ask other witnesses and participants what theirs saw but she will report WHAT SHE KNOWS FOR A FACT IS NOT THE TRUTH because a cop said it.

[Half-Virtue, Half-Vice]

Wow, read the comments at the end of the article.

FUCK THE POLICE!! t('_'t)

[Riven]

I am stealing that emoji thing. Yep. Mine.

[Morning Wood for Sloopy's Mom]

Riven, that is an emoticon. Emojis are graphics, emoticons are text.

[Riven]

How do you whipper-snappers keep track of all these emojis, emoticons, word alerts, etc?

[sloopyinTEXAS]

And those are almost all witness who saw the abuse. I mean, it's like the ability to find people to interview is all but unnecessary. Just FB message half of them and they'll tell you exactly what they saw. Not to mention I have an email from that horrible writer where she called it excessive.*

*And never asked that our conversation stay off the record.

[Morning Wood for Sloopy's Mom]

Is that a tear tattoo under your eye that you got in prison for killing a guy?

Sir, that's a cool tattoo.

[Tyler.C Sloopy's mom matters]

Fuck em.

[Tyler.C Sloopy's mom matters]

The police that is

[We are all Sloopy's mom (RBS)]

Looks like Bluffton Today has been deleting comments.

[sonofmombeatenbycopsinTEXAS]

A lot of the deleted ones are mine. My dad asked me to delete them because he was concerned it would impact the Jasper Co. people's willingness to drop the charges.

I think they memory-holed everything once when they updated the story.*

*Note they're both by the same person. She's on staff at the Jasper paper, Bluffton's reprinted it with a few updates by their reporter.

[What about Sloopy's mom?]

Thanks? I noticed they're the same story?

[Just Say'n]

What's the deal with Sloopy's mom? I'm not in the know

[Tonio]

See above. Hopefully, someone will post a link or a first-hand account. My account is a re-telling of what was posted earlier.

[Cdr Lytton]

Treats HS player at basketball game. Cop arrests her with the usual niceties when she approached the ref to halt the game. PD laid the usual BS PR spin on their actions and (poor) decision making and locked her up overnight because the process is the punishment.

[Tonio cares about Sloopy's Mom]

Thanks.

[Bobarian (Would Chip Her)]

She was on the personal receiving end of a Balko style nut-punch.

[DEG]

Quick answer (those with more knowledge feel free to correct me/fill in the blanks): Sloopy's mom is a nurse. She was at a high school basketball game where her husband was coaching one of the teams. One of the players passed out due to an asthma attack. She provided assistance. When she tried to get the ref to halt the game so that the EMTs could get on court and get to the kid, the cops beat her up and arrested her. She spent the night in jail.

[Trshmnstr, stuck in this can]

Essentially, his dad is the coach of a HS basketball team. His mom is a nurse. One of the players was having a serious medical event during a game and she was administering aid. During the process of administering aid, the ref decided to restart the game. Sloopy's mom confronted the ref and told him to stop the game so EMTs could get to the kid (still on the sideline), and a cop decided this was too aggressive, and bodyslammed her to the court and hauled her off for an overnight stay in jail.

(I think I got everything right, but people will surely post more info)

[yet another dave]

I was recently at a youth rugby match... some speedster was breaking down midfield and zagged when he should've zigged and ran full speed chest first into a monster sized kid.... nice shoulder to chest tackle.. but damn, I think I saw his soul briefly leave his body.... laid flat out... the ref yelled "Play on" the game never slowed... two guys come out and hauled the kid off the field. Brings a tear to my eye... There is hope yet for our youth

[Half-Virtue, Half-Vice]

Former United Nation Secretary General Ban Ki-moon won't run for president of South Korea.

He was the front runner!

[rts]

Trudeau government abandons promise of electoral reform

The more promises he breaks, the more I kind of like the guy.

Well, not really.

[Rufus The Monocled]

He realized he couldn't rig it the way he wanted.

Idiot.

[Mazakon]

I dunno, I could find some inkling if he followed through on marijuana.

[Juvenile Bluster]

His father was never a fan of elections, so...

[DJF]

So he wants to keep the system that got him elected, what a surprise

"""Minister of Democratic Institutions"""

Not sure what this person job is, but she gets a paycheck so she is a professional

[Pan Zagloba]

"A clear preference for a new electoral system, let alone a consensus, has not emerged. Furthermore, without a clear preference or a clear question, a referendum would not be in Canada's interest. Changing the electoral system will not be in your mandate."

"Shit, if we let the plebs speak, they might embarrass us like idiots in BC did their government."
"Plus, we won the majority so no need to deal with NDP."
"Good point. Hammer DOWN!"

[John Titor]

Almost makes me wish Layton was still alive to fuck with 'em. Almost.

[The Fusionist]

All these in-jokes about a country I scarcely know exists...

(Kind of kidding, it's a great place, I'm sure)

[John Titor]

You'd think you of all places would be into somewhere that has publicly funded Catholic schools.

[The Fusionist]

I'm cautious about getting the Church's nose in the public trough - give me tax credits any day - but thank you for your concern, and let me know when global warming makes Canada habitable.

[The Fusionist]

Getting the Church on a government subsidy is like giving an [ethnicity deleted] a bottle of whiskey and asking him to drink responsibly.

[John Titor]

Canada, where we bitch to high hell about how our electoral system works, but fuck you if you try to change it, we want a referendum.

[DRM]

Well, sure.

The Liberals want a transferable/preference vote system, so that they get the hardcore NDP voters in specific ridings helping elect Liberal MPs over Conservatives. They don't want a proportional vote system that might convince anti-Conservative voters that they can safely vote NDP instead of Liberal.

The NDP wants a proportional vote system, so that they can turn their fractions in multiple ridings into MPs. They also would like to convince anti-Conservative voters they could vote NDP without "wasting" their vote.

The Conservatives don't want NDP votes electing Liberals over Conservatives in single ridings, and they don't want more NDP MPs.

Since any two of the three parties can put together a majority on any referendum, there is no possible binary referendum that can pass any specific electoral reform, even though there is a majority for not continuing to use the current system.

[Fist of Etiquette]

National Security Advisor said Iran was "on notice" after a ballistic missile test that appeared to be in violation of a United Nations resolution.

YOU JUST MADE THE LIST, IRAN.

[Private Chipperbot]

They're already on probation...

[Juice]

I thought they were on notice.

[Tonio]

You know who else were on a list?

[Pan Zagloba]

Quite a few people?

*defers*

[Homple]

Oskar Schindler's employees?

[This Machine Chips Fascists]

All of AQ's #2 men.

[DOOMco's Ref Chipper]

Reason's fascist commenters?

[Morning Wood for Sloopy's Mom]

People Steve Buscemi plans to kill?

[Slumbrew]

Man, I'm glad I called that guy.

[Jerry on the sea]

"And here in the right corner we have Mike. Mike, do you want to say anything to these folks? Come on up on stage. You tell them Mike. You tell the whole world."

[TheZeitgeist]

Anyone notice Houthi rebels got their suicide on with Saudi frigate in Red Sea yesterday?

It's like real news is going on outside the Trumpverse.

[PapayaSF]

Another own goal for Islam.

[ant1sthenes]

You... realize they are on opposing sides of the Blood War, right? The Houthis are Iranian-backed Shia,

[PapayaSF]

Sure, but they both hate us.

[bacon-magic]

Hihn's list? orTrump's list?

[Fist of Etiquette]

Sen. Lisa Murkowski (R-Alaska) became the second Republican to say she would vote against the confirmation of Betsy DeVos as education secretary.

Someone got woke.

[$park? is totally a Swifty]

Woke af

[Cdr Lytton]

It's still winter. Shouldn't she still be hibernating?

[Juvenile Bluster]

My wife took me to task last night because I'm not panicking over everything Trump does.

[Tonio]

"Honey, I'm just too depressed about Trump to take out the garbage."

[Jerry on the sea]

"What if they don't let me into the house again, even though I'm a permanent resident?"

[Tonio cares about Sloopy's Mom]

Nice.

[Slumbrew]

My fiancee and I had a nearly-serious fight over the exact same thing. Thankfully, she's calmed down a bit. Broads, so hysterical...

[John Titor]

Is there a dating site that specifically provides only profiles of strictly apolitical women?

Asking for a friend.

[TheZeitgeist]

Dating site specifically providing profiles of only politically libertarian women = one sad-sack dating site.

[Bobarian (Would Chip Her)]

I believe it's called Grindr?

[Rothbard'sbitch]

There is one but all the 'female' profiles are just Crusty in drag.

[Morning Wood for Sloopy's Mom]

[Shrugs, swipes right]

[DOOMco]

I had a few dates with an ancap girl i met on tinder.

[Not a True MJG]

...Well you can't just stop there.

[DOOMco's Ref Chipper]

eh. She was cool, very fun to talk politics with. I see her at the bar on occasion now. She was looking for something a lot more serious and open, which is something I couldn't do.

[Morning Wood for Sloopy's Mom]

Translation: she wasn't that hot.

[Crusty Juggler - #2]

Diaper Mates, Clown Dating.

[DEG]

During my last stint on OKCupid, every now and then I'd run a search for women in my desired age range anywhere in the world with "libertarian" in their profile. I was surprised at how many women popped up, until I looked at their profiles. Most were some variation of "No Libertarians! Fuck of fascists!", "Libertarians need not apply", so on and so forth.

[What about Sloopy's mom?]

"No Libertarians! Fuck of fascists!"

"All within the state, nothing outside the state, nothing against the state."? the defining quote of laissez-faire.

[DEG: sloopy's mom story soon?]

I tried not to laugh at her profile when I read it. Not at the spelling mistake, that mistake is mine.

[Riven]

What a shame. I met my match on OKCupid.

I didn't have libertarian in my profile, but I was pretty openly hostile anyway.

[Slumbrew]

Fun fact, my now-fiancee and I were on OKCupid at the same time, in the same area. I didn't pass the filters because I was 1) too old [I'll give her that, I suppose] and 2) too short - she's 5-foot goddamn 3-inches. I am 4 inches taller than her.

I'll grant that I'm not exactly skyin', but what kind of crazy stripper heels would she have to be wearing where I wasn't always taller than her? WTH, ladies?

If it weren't for a random social event and jello-shots, she might have totally missed out.

[Crusty Juggler - #2]

If it weren't for a random social event and jello-shots

Don't stop there.

[Slumbrew]

It's a pretty great annual charity food event; the year we met one of the places was giving out ponies of the High Life and jello shots with their offering.

At the end of the night they had a ton left over and gave them to my buddy - he's walking back with a double-armload of High Life ponies and jello shots, my now-fiancee literally bumps into him, "come drink these with us", etc. etc. history.

[Crusty Juggler - #2]

etc. etc.

My goodness, I don't want the Kate Hudson/Matthew McConaughey, Fools Gold version - I ain't no fag - I want the dirty stuff!

But, it's great warm jello shots caused your ageist and heightest lady to overcome her disgusting biases.

[Slumbrew]

Fine, fine - she came back to my place and the... well, actually she fell asleep on my shoulder on the couch. And drooled on me a bit. I've since returned the favor.

[Crusty Juggler - #2]

I can't masturbate to anything related to Boston.

[Slumbrew]

I can't masturbate to anything related to Boston.

I see that as a positive.

[Morning Wood for Sloopy's Mom]

"Fohck me, haaadeh"
Yeah, Crusty, I am gonna have to agree.

[Riven]

No kidding! I didn't really have any filters on mine other than reading the messages that came to my inbox every day. If you can't spell out of ignorance, can't spell becuz u use txt spch, and/or can't form a basic, composed sentence... I just didn't bother.

That really narrowed it down, just that. I think of the dozens of messages I got, only three or four weren't deleted right away...

[Crusty Juggler - #2]

If you can't spell

Women have been known to agree to a date with me, or have been impressed by, my spelling and use of full words. It's kind of my move.

[bacon-magic stands w/sloop]

+1 dick move

[Riven]

I know that sounds really petty or weird or both...

But since so much communication is written these days, I couldn't help but consider how frustrating it would be in the future if I needed to communicate with these people as potential significant others.

If I can expect to look forward to a bunch of shitty text messages like "C U soon!" or "K"... Let's just not.

[Crusty Juggler - #2]

I know that sounds really petty or weird or both...

Not at all. I find text-speak to be incomprehensible at times, and I imagine that in general men are worse at it than women.

[tarran]

Ah yes! Vulgar gutter textese! It's the Lena Dunham of written communication.

[Slumbrew]

Agreed. I text in complete sentences, with punctuation.

[Tonio cares about Sloopy's Mom]

[golf clap]

[DEG: sloopy's mom story soon?]

Women have been known to agree to a date with me, or have been impressed by, my spelling and use of full words. It's kind of my move.

Damn. It does nothing for me with women.

[Slumbrew]

Women have been known to agree to a date with me, or have been impressed by, my spelling and use of full words. It's kind of my move.

Damn. It does nothing for me with women.

Well, that's coming from Crusty - spelling is still kind of a big deal for grade-schoolers.

[Voros McCracken]

Here's some tips

[Morning Wood for Sloopy's Mom]

My advice: say you are a liberal. Post-coitus, clarify that you meant classical liberal.

[AceDroman]

And that's a rape charge

[This Machine Chips Fascists]

STEVE SMITH APOLITICAL. RAPE ALL WITH EQUAL TENDERNESS.

[PapayaSF]

John Titor, my approach is to just describe my politics (briefly) in my profile, and let it scare away the ones it scares away.

[John Titor]

I don't care for political girlfriends, even ones that agree with me. I prefer women more interested in things other than politics, art, history, music, literature, animal husbandry (that was a weird one) or are at least dispassionate about it.

[Morning Wood for Sloopy's Mom]

Animal husbandry. John, is there something you want to tell us?

[Trshmnstr hates nurse beaters]

Meee-yoww

[Ska]

I would so look for a girl into neko cosplay.

[John Titor]

'Member my warning a week or two ago about the dangers of Horse Girls?

Don't date Horse Girls. Just don't do it. Yes, the riding experience makes the sex great, but don't bloody do it.

[Pompey:? Class Mothersmucker]

Not that I have any experience, but my observation is that Horse Girls prioritize the horses and it always ends in unhappiness and/or collapse.

[The Other Kevin]

The other day a FB friend posted that if you're not afraid for your life, you haven't been reading the news.

If that's true, I'd be better off not reading the news. I have enough fucking stress in my life right now.

[Crusty Juggler - #2]

You should be stressed! They're after you!

[LoneWaco]

An ex I still see occasionally gave me the old "I can't sit across from someone who voted for Trump" speech yesterday. I leapt on that deal.

[Riven]

Lolling at all y'all, marrying hysterical Sheilas.

Luckily, I landed myself a libertarian fella.

[ant1sthenes]

My wife is being surprisingly calm. Maybe I'm a good influence.

[DEG]

NH Department of Education nominee says he has no intention of dismantling public education.

Sad.

Wilton entrepreneur Frank Edelblut, Gov. Chris Sununu's nominee to lead the state Department of Education, tried to allay the fears of opponents in his confirmation hearing on Tuesday before the Executive Council.

"I have no intention of dismantling public education, but I have every intention of helping the system move forward and offer a product that parents and educators want for our young people," he said

Edelblut, who came within 800 votes of defeating Sununu in the GOP gubernatorial primary in September, was nominated by the governor to replace Virginia Barry as education commissioner. He could be confirmed as soon as today.

[esteve7]

OT: Voxplaining the Supreme Court (I love how they mis-characterize all of the conservative decisions, as if they have no idea what intellectual honesty is - you not paying for something I want is denying me access!).

http://www.vox.com/2016/8/22/12484000.....al-clinton

My proggy friends were so giddy 6 months ago... after Hillary wins and the Dems take the Senate, not only would the court turn to the left, but if RBG and Bryer retires, then you have a young solid block for decades. If Kennedy retired or died too, you'd get a solid 6 leftist judges for a generation! No more citizens united, etc.

Preventing that alone is Trump's greatest legacy so far. And he knew it. In his speech he acknowledged that many voted for him just because of the Supreme Court, and he nominated who he said he would.

[Pay up, Palin's Buttplug!]

Progressives are denying Americans access to food and shelter by not paying for them.

[Juice]

And in more recent years, it's..., for the first time in American history, declared an individual right to own guns.

All that could've changed ? if Hillary Clinton had won.

Praise Jesus.

[Juice]

Let's start with perhaps the biggest thing that could've happened under a liberal Court, perhaps even a Court where another conservative replaces Scalia: the end of long-term solitary confinement.

They're simply imagining that having "a liberal court" would give them a bunch of stuff on their wishlist. What children.

[mr simple]

Clinton promised to "appoint Supreme Court justices who will protect Americans' right to vote over the right of billionaires to buy elections,"

How did the billionaires work out for her?

[Fist of Etiquette]

Former United Nation Secretary General Ban Ki-moon won't run for president of South Korea.

That guru lady won't let him.

[Tonio]

Regarding the DeVos nomination - I believe that means that the timing of Sessions' confirmation will determine DeVos' confirmation - if Sessions is confirmed before the DeVos vote then he won't get to vote on DeVos and she will not be confirmed. I can see leftists swallowing Sessions to block DeVos - even though Sessions will be demonstrably worse for everyone. This also tells you that the real, deep enemy is the teachers' unions.

While this will be disappointing for many of us here, don't despair. There are other nominees who will also keep DoEd under tight reins - Christina Hoff Sommers comes to mind (thanks, whoever mentioned her earlier this week).

[Juvenile Bluster]

Pre-announcement I had heard speculation it would be Michelle Rhee. If it's not going to be DeVos, I hope she gets the nom. She'll fly through the process, and she's an advocate for charter schools and school choice.

[colorblindkid]

Yeah anybody he picks for Ed Sec will be good, going by his short list. I would much rather them fight Sessions, but they're full-blown retards so will likely pick the wrong fight.

[Tonio cares about Sloopy's Mom]

Not retardation, prioritizing the desires of public schoolteachers above the rights of everyone.

[Apatheist ?_??]

In the end Murkowski and Collin's opposition probably signals that getting meaningful school choice reform through the Senate will be difficult anyways.

[Drake]

It signals how worthless many Republicans in the Senate truly are. They may as well be a Democrats 15 years ago.

[Tonio cares about Sloopy's Mom]

Oh, I'd forgotten about her. That will certainly outrage progs. Heh.

[waffles]

I've met Michele Rhee and she's as big of a rent-seeking scumbag as anyone. Her sweetheart deals with Kevin Johnson in Sacramento make her so unpalatable to me. At least I know less about Devos and she pisses off the right people. Why is everyone in a leadership position in the public sector such a scumbag?

[Crusty Juggler - #2]

All of this. Plus, Kevin Johnson is a creep, and she is apparently okay with that.

[Drake]

The real deep enemy are the Rinos.

[Juice]

I'd rather RINOs than true-blue Republicans like Jeff Sessions, Lindsay Graham, and Ted Cruz.

[Half-Virtue, Half-Vice]

President Trump made an unnannounced visit to Dover Air Force Base to greet the body of a Navy SEAL killed in a counter-terrorism operation in Yemen.

Politically motivated, but honorable nonetheless. Any leader who sends men into battle should bear witness in some way or another to the toils of war.

[Crusty Juggler - #2]

Kevin Williamson takes another white scalp.

But if we reject the possibility that he is simply a fool or a self-seeking political miscreant, then Senator Wyden must be a villain, one who knowingly and with malice aforethought helped maneuver Gorsuch onto the Tenth Circuit Court of Appeals, where he marinated in his own malevolence and awaited his eventual elevation to the Supreme Court. And so, Senator Wyden must resign.

[Just Say'n]

Nick Gillespie re-tweeted Wyden's claim about Gorsuch. He's just pissed that we didn't get another Souter on the court, like so called libertarian nominee Gary Johnson wanted. Oh well, I guess we'll get to keep the 1st and 2nd Amendment.

Keep selling out Reason. You know for the cocktail parties and such

[Crusty Juggler - #2]

Keep selling out Reason. You know for the cocktail parties and such

Cocktail parties?

[bacon-magic]

Not to be confused with Crusty's Cock and Tail parties.

[Morning Wood for Sloopy's Mom]

That joke never gets old.

[Cdr Lytton]

I don't think we should reject Wyden as an idiot out of hand. On the other hand, he's a genius compared to his fellow senator from Oregon.

[Slammer]

The civil war in Yemen erased a decade's worth of health gains, according to UNICEF.

muh GAINZ. Do more squatz, Yemen

[Private Chipperbot]

Fight Milk!

[Ted S.]

Sen. Lisa Murkowski (R-Alaska) became the second Republican to say she would vote against the confirmation of Betsy DeVos as education secretary.

They're worse than Reason at trying to be liked by the Beltway crowd.

[Fist of Etiquette]

Democrats say they're not ruling out a filibuster of Supreme Court Justice nominee Neil Gorsuch.

If the GOP can hold out for a year, the Dems can hold out for four!

[DRM]

It's so fucking stupid. Are the Democrats really dumb enough to spend four years filibustering a Justice who is on the Supreme Court and can vote on cases on the hope that they can win in 2020?

I mean, let's assume that there aren't enough votes to go nuclear. So what? All Trump needs is a recess, and Trump can put Gorsuch on the court in a recess appointment. And Constitutionally, all Trump needs to get a recess is for either House to come up with a bare majority to adjourn -- because if the Houses disagree on when to adjourn to, the President gets to make the decision.

The Republicans had an actual majority. A majority can do a lot that a minority can't, like maintain pro-forma sessions and refuse to schedule votes and allow "easy" filibusters instead of ones that require actually standing on the floor talking. And the Democrats have no prospect of taking the Senate before 2020, because the 2018 Senate map is so hostile to them.

[SugarFree]

Police in Miami Beach want to install license plate readers on all state roads.

Tulpa gets hard.

[Citizen X - #6]

+1.75 inches

[DOOMco]

Don't write that story. Please?

[SugarFree]

Don't worry. Everyone knows Tulpa hasn't had an erection since the Rodney King beating.

[Slammer]

If they install them ON the roads, just run them over

[Tonio cares about Sloopy's Mom]

Rocks, spray paint, hammers, etc.

[Pan Zagloba]

A corruption scandal surrounding French presidential frontrunner Francois Fillon forced up French borrowing costs; his primary rival is the National Front's Marine Le Pen.

And to make matters more interesting, Marine Herself is in trouble over money.

European Parliament deadline for France's far-right leader Marine Le Pen to return more than 300,000 euros (?257,000; $321,000) it says she has misspent, has passed.

The presidential candidate had until midnight to repay the money, but said she had no intention of doing so.

And to make matters super-interesting (if you're a dork), the Socialists went off-script, and instead of putting forward a Reforming Moderate, put up French Bernie Sanders (adjusted for differences between countries).

He has experienced a surge in popularity from a range of progressive plans, including a proposal for a universal monthly income for all citizens.

He also wants to legalise cannabis, and ditch the labour law passed last year that made it easier to hire and fire.

[Ted S.]

Somehow I don't think the French people are going to care any more than the Italian people cared about Berlusconi's shenanigans.

[grrizzly]

Does it mean that Emmanuel Macron has a chance? He's the least awful of (former) socialists. Also, not ugly.

[jesse.in.mb]

Would.

[Morning Wood for Sloopy's Mom]

I thought you liked bears?

[Pan Zagloba]

jesse is a man of the world with impeccable style and eclectic (though unquestionable) taste.

[SQWRLZ://cdn.panopticon.gov]

Maybe you as a power top, him as a faceless bottom? Ick.

[John Titor]

Is it possible to just install Napoleon IV instead?

[Jerry on the sea]

There is also the independent candidacy of Emmanuel Macron. And because this is France, apparently this guy married his high school teacher:

Emmanuel Macron met Brigitte when he was 16. At that time, she was his French teacher at the private high school of La Providence in the Northern pretty city of Amiens. Brigitte is a heiress of the well-known local chocolate and confectionary maker: the Trogneux family.

And cut scene.

[TheZeitgeist]

Sixteen year old nailing his rich French teacher named Brigitte? In her dad's chocolate factory?

Dear Penthouse...

[Mickey Rat]

That is one hell of a golden ticket.

[Half-Virtue, Half-Vice]

I recall pops telling me that this was pretty usual back in the day. He knew a guy who married his high school teacher.

I don't think all the female teachers imprisoned recently is a shocking trend out of nowhere; just a longtime coming crackdown.

I still think it should just be a fire-able offence.

[Brett L]

I can't remember which early Golden Age of SF writer it was, maybe EE Smith married his wife the day after she graduated from the high school where he taught her.

[Crusty Juggler - #2]

Married anatomy teacher, 24, is jailed for having sex with a 16-year-old student during summer break at state park

A married high school teacher has been jailed after seducing one of her students and meeting up for sex with them during the summer break.

Brandi Lynn Vaughn, 25, formerly known as Brandi Whittaker, of Richmond, Kentucky was accused of rape, sexual abuse and sodomy.

It came after she met the 16-year-old male in Fort Boonesborough State Park in June and at her home in July 2015 for sex.

Cute booking photo.

[jesse.in.mb]

and meeting up for sex with them

The minor as identified as male later, why the "them"? Was the author just trying to string readers along hoping for some kind of inter-generational sapphic scissoring?

[Pan Zagloba]

Go on...

[mad.casual]

At first glance, I read 'them' and 'sodomy' to be student, teacher, and husband. NTTAWWT (well, except the State Park, WTHF?)

[Tonio cares about Sloopy's Mom]

Is there non-sapphic scissoring? Willing to try that, but only with you, Jesse.

[Bobarian (Would Chip Her)]

I think that is called 'sword-fighting'?

[jesse.in.mb]

Actually I was in a fairly scissory position two weeks ago with a gentleman acquaintance. It worked better than was expecting. Would explore further.

[Morning Wood for Sloopy's Mom]

We are gonna need more details, Jesse.

Well?? Did he come or what???

[$park? is totally a Swifty]

Brandi Lynn... well at least she's not stripping.

[John Titor]

Teacher had taught biology and anatomy at Madison Southern High School

Oh come on, the jokes write themselves.

[Jerry on the sea]

Brandi Lynn Vaughn, 25, formerly known as Brandi Whittaker, of Richmond, Kentucky was accused of rape, sexual abuse and sodomy.

Are you talking about the future first lady of France?

[Tonio cares about Sloopy's Mom]

Sodomy? I'm guessing they mean oral since that is often included in the sodomy statutes. And I thought Lawrence v Texas invalidated all sodomy laws.

[Crusty Juggler - #2]

I believe it just means he was underage. No butt stuff, Tonio.

[Not a True MJG]

Sad!

[mad.casual]

Married anatomy teacher, 24, is jailed for having sex with a 16-year-old student during summer break at state park

Suddenly, I wonder how many 'private tutoring' ads backpage.com is guilty of?

[DEG]

Concern trolling about Peter Thiel's New Zealand citizenship

Warning: auto-play video

For Peter Thiel, it wasn't always "America First."

The billionaire investor and vocal Trump supporter was able to secure New Zealand citizenship after "categorically" declaring that he has "found no other country that aligns more with my view of the future than New Zealand."

That was in 2011, the year he was granted citizenship by the New Zealand government even though he did not fulfill the residency requirement and had no immediate plans to live in the South Pacific island nation.

[John Titor]

So the whole 'being gay' thing is a cover for more...exotic tastes?

[grrizzly]

+1 The Kindly Ones

[Jerry on the sea]

Maybe he just likes sheep...a lot.

[John Titor]

Well I wasn't trying to just come out and say it.

[Morning Wood for Sloopy's Mom]

Or kiwi birds.

[bacon-magic stands w/sloop]

You guys are baaaaaaaaaaaad.

[Mazakon]

Science March to be held on Earth Day

(CNN)Just like protesters who have taken to the streets and airports -- for the Women's March and against the travel ban -- scientists are planning their own march.

The group behind the March for Science in Washington just announced in a tweet that they will rally on April 22 -- Earth Day.

Organizers want the march to be a non-partisan protest that champion support and funding for science, science-based policy and diversity. They're worried about the new administration's stance on climate change, energy policy and other issues.

Oh, it's gonna be that level of pretentious.

[Tonio cares about Sloopy's Mom]

Double dammit. But I'm a member of their *secret* FB group. Shhhh...

[Juice]

Organizers want the march to be a non-partisan protest that champion support and funding for science, science-based policy and diversity.

What if science tells you that government funding of science is bad? I guess they'll have to drop the science-based policy platform.

[rts]

On 22 April, empiricists around the country will march for science

Because without government, there is no science, apparently.

[Tonio]

Dammit.

And there are rumblings on their secret FB page about how since science funding has become politicized, that scientists must become political.

[rts]

I think that horse bolted a while ago.

[Homple]

From Eisenhower's Farewell Speech, right after the military industrial complex remark:

Partly because of the huge costs involved, a government contract becomes virtually a substitute for intellectual curiosity.

[Juice]

OK, the government is going to fund, operate, and oversee this program over here and we're going to force you to pay for it, but let's not make this political. OK?

[Rothbard'sbitch]

Please troll them. Tell them Western science is racist and they need to hold up signs calling for funding for witchcraft and voodoo in order to be inclusive of non white science.

[Brett L]

Empiricist who believe things because they are modeled? I am still a dark matter skeptic because we lack any direct observation of its existence. That's empiricism.

[Half-Virtue, Half-Vice]

Police in Miami Beach want to install license plate readers on all state roads.

I would NOT sacrifice liberty for security; but I would compromise to more security for more liberty.

[Juvenile Bluster]

Now that Florida Supercon has moved from Miami Beach to Fort Lauderdale, I have absolutely no reason to go down there any longer. Fort Lauderdale Beach is better anyways.

[Tonio]

March for Science update - they have a date for their march - April 22. Physical Anthropoligists pissed because that date conflicts with the PA convention. Much bitching about the logo which depicts an atom using the old school "solar system" model.

[TheZeitgeist]

H 4,3,1 wave function probability distro looks like a pretty flower, so humanities scientists can feel included at least.

[Crusty Juggler - #2]

Choir teacher is arrested for INDECENCY after she did a videotaped cartwheel in front of students in a skirt and no underwear

An Oklahoma substitute choir teacher was arrested for indecent exposure after she reportedly did a cartwheel in front of her class of high school students, according to police.

Lacey Sponsler, 34, was wearing a long dress at the time of the incident, but she didn't have on undergarments, causing her 'to expose herself to the students in the class'.

A 17-year-old Pawhuska High School student recorded the incident on a cell phone using the Snapchat app, according to a probable cause affidavit.

Sponsler, who was wearing a long dress, did the cartwheel in the Junior High Choir room when her dress 'flipped up', exposing her buttocks, according to police.

An officer who saw the video wrote in the affidavit that he also noticed Sponsler 'was not wearing any type of underwear'.

The 17-year-old student said Sponsler told the class she 'was not wearing underwear before performing the cartwheel', which also exposed her 'bare vagina'

[Half-Virtue, Half-Vice]

Crusty you have the best links.

[What about Sloopy's mom?]

That's why he's crusty...

[Juice]

And of course that merits jail time.

[The Late P Brooks]

So this is what I was ruminating on as I pushed ~18" of snow off my deck.

If somebody put up a change.org petition begging the "military" to effect a coup and return Obama to the Presidency throne, how many signatures would it get in 24 hours?

[Private Chipperbot]

Interesting. I'd guess it could get over a million in 24 hours based on the stupid trending thing on facebook. I have no idea how long it actually takes someone to 'sign' one of those.

[jesse.in.mb]

Thousands officially pardoned under 'Turing's Law'

The historic moment comes after the Policing and Crime Bill today (31 January 2017) received Royal Assent ? enshrining, in law, pardons for those convicted of consensual same-sex relationships.

The new law, made possible following government intervention, will also see statutory pardons granted to the living. However, this will only apply in cases where offenders have successfully applied through the Home Office's disregard process to have historic convictions removed.

An applicant is only eligible for a 'disregard' if the Secretary of State decides that it appears that the other person involved in the conduct which constituted the offence consented to it and was aged 16 or over at the time, and that the conduct would not now constitute the offence of sexual activity in a public lavatory. In other words, the Secretary of State must be satisfied that the conduct is no longer criminal.

George Michael just can't catch a break.

[Fist of Etiquette]

More tacked-on qualifiers than a Viagra commercial.

[Private Chipperbot]

I'm picturing Fisher sighing and deleting the piece he was working on that condemned Trump for holding this up and allowing GM to die before it was signed.

[Rufus The Monocled]

FBI quietly investigated white supremacists in law enforcement:

http://bit.ly/2kmMCIa

[Citizen X - #6]

They're not gonna do anything about all the blue supremacists, though, are they.

[Zero Sum Game]

Rage boner and nowhere to put it. Blue-balls matter.

[Juice]

Some of those that work forces, are the same that burn crosses. Those who died are justified, for wearing the badge, they're the chosen whites.

[Rufus The Monocled]

https://yhoo.it/2krKG1B

"If there was any question about who is largely in charge of national security behind the scenes at the White House, the answer is becoming increasingly clear: Steve Bannon, the former head of Breitbart News, a far-right media outlet, and now White House advisor.

Even before he was given a formal seat on the National Security Council's "principals committee" this weekend by President Donald Trump, Bannon was calling the shots and doing so with little to no input from the National Security Council staff, according to an intelligence official who asked not to be named out of fear of retribution.

"He is running a cabal, almost like a shadow NSC," the official said. He described a work environment where there is little appetite for dissenting opinions, shockingly no paper trail of what's being discussed and agreed upon at meetings, and no guidance or encouragement so far from above about how the National Security Council staff should be organized."

[That's A Bingo!]

He described a work environment where there is little appetite for dissenting opinions, shockingly no paper trail of what's being discussed and agreed upon at meetings

Sounds like every NSC in my lifetime.

[Ted S.]

Sounds like the Clinton campaign. Or the Obama administration.

[mad.casual]

"He is running a cabal, almost like a shadow NSC,"

Like he's some tin pot dictator with no regard for the rule of law and, if he were black, we'd call him that too!

After 'teh Russians Hax0rz!' isn't Bannon just doing his job? /half-sarc

[Half-Virtue, Half-Vice]

The civil war in Yemen erased a decade's worth of health gains, according to UNICEF.

Gosh, what is that phrase? "War is all...?" hmm. I know it will come to me at some point.

[TheZeitgeist]

You'd think Yemen would be at full employment with all those broken windows and stuff.

[DEG]

Drinking baijiu

It's the most widely drunk hard liquor in the world but it's rarely found on cocktail menus.
Baijiu, distilled from sorghum and rice, rules every festive occasion in China, where it's the tipple of choice for everything from wedding receptions to business banquets.
It's especially popular during celebrations for the Lunar New Year, which began Saturday, when shot glasses filled with the potent spirit are thrown back and slammed down on the table in endless rounds of toasts.
"Many (foreigners) find baijiu off-putting, but it's not about the liquor itself," says Bill Isler, co-founder of Beijing's Capital Spirits, the world's first baijiu-themed bar.

[Juice]

Yep. They drink the fuck out of that stuff like the Polish and vodka. And here I thought east Asians couldn't handle liquor.

It's the most widely drunk hard liquor in the world but it's rarely found on cocktail menus.

Writer needs to look up the definition of widely.

[Crusty Juggler - #2]

Oklahoma man who authorities say fell in love with stripper convicted of killing his wife

"Kinney Glasson lived a double life," Assistant District Attorney Jimmy Harmon said during closing arguments, according to the Oklahoman. "But then something happened where he was not able to run those two parallel lives anymore."

Prosecutors claimed that Glasson was "madly in love" with the stripper, but he said he kept seeing her out of fear she would spill the beans to his wife, according to the Oklahoman.

[Slammer]

"madly in love" with the stripper

Great romcom name

[Basketball Uber Alles, Jr.]

Starring Paul Rudd, Seth Rogan, and Anna Kendrick.

[Morning Wood for Sloopy's Mom]

Seth Rogan is the stripper, right?

[The Late P Brooks]

The Federal Reserve said sentiment was "improving," but decided not to raise interest rates.

Not political!

[Kurmudgeonly Kristen]

I just had a realization today that I have to share.

I am just now starting to recognize the level of indoctrination that I went through when I worked in the govt. Not political, necessarily (I worked in both the Bush & Obama admins), but little things.

For example: I have never read the Snowden Wikileaks stuff (I've read about it, but I have never once visited the Wikileaks web site). If I had, I could have lost my clearance and been fired. So I didn't. I could now, I suppose. But I haven't, because there's some nagging voice in the back of my head telling me not to.

It's like I was in a motherfuckin cult, and I'm just now coming out of the fog, and seeing all the restrictions that were placed on me, and that I placed on myself.

So weird, man.

[jesse.in.mb]

A family member was a govt contractor in Afghanistan. We were talking about wikileaks and she complained the site was blocked there. (It was just DNS filtering. I gave her the IP address and she could get to it just fine).

[Kurmudgeonly Kristen]

I could have read it at home, but my libertarian paranoia was telling me "they" could track it if they wanted. And since I only had a Secret clearance, I was not authorized to consume the Top Secret info Snowden leaked. We were lectured several times about this in meetings.

I also feel a compulsion to fill out my timesheet every day, even though I'm not required to do that at my new job.

And I put all my notes and papers away in a drawer every day, even though they are totally innocuous and the company has no policy about that stuff (except for engineering documents - that's under lock and key).

I wear my badge on my person at all times, whereas my colleagues often leave theirs at home and just get buzzed in the door by the receptionist.

I had no idea the extent I had curtailed my own freedom.

[Juice]

I could have read it at home, but my libertarian paranoia was telling me "they" could track it if they wanted.

And they will.

A few years ago I was working on a research contract for a government agency. The, for lack of a better term, project manager (the guy at the agency who handled the contract) once dropped a very subtle hint that he knew some of the things I had surfed on the internet. And very early into the contract I moved apartments, because the one I first moved into when I moved to DC for the job sucked ass, and he was very adamant that he had to have my new address as soon as possible. That's what tipped me off at first. Why is he so worried about getting my new address as quickly as possible? And then he said the thing that made my ears perk up and I pretty much knew that they had been monitoring my web traffic.

So, if you suspect that the see at least some of the things you do online, they probably do.

[Trshmnstr hates nurse beaters]

I wear my badge on my person at all times, whereas my colleagues often leave theirs at home and just get buzzed in the door by the receptionist.

I'm the worst at that. The receptionist knew me by first name within 3 months because I forgot my badge that many times.

[Ted S.]

You should have stored the Wikileaks stuff on a private server in your bathroom. That's totes OK.

[DEG]

Cooking and eating tarantulas

The giant tarantula dangling from my mouth might be dead, but it's still terrifying.
Objectively, it doesn't taste too bad -- similar in style to crab.
However given that scientists say flavor is influenced significantly by the way food appears and smells, it should come as little surprise my mind's made up the moment I look at this hairy beast.
It's disgusting.

It matters not that I fried the tarantula myself in traditional style under the guidance of an expert spider cook in the northwestern Cambodian town of Siem Reap.

[colorblindkid]

Please criticize Trump for honoring a dead soldier, media. Do it. Please.

[Crusty Juggler - #2]

Official: Guards taken hostage by inmates at Delaware prison

Delaware prisons were locked down Wednesday as authorities responded to a hostage situation at the state's maximum security facility.

Geoffrey Klopp, president of the Correctional Officers Association of Delaware, said he was told by the Department of Correction commissioner that prison guards had been taken hostage at the James T. Vaughn Correctional Center in Smyrna. According to CBS affiliate WBOC, Klopp said he had been told by the DOC commissioner that "three to five correctional officers have been taken hostage and the inmates have control of the building."

The DOC said in a statement to CBS News they are responding along with state police to a hostage situation. The statement did not elaborate on who had been taken hostage or how many hostages were reported.

A DOC spokeswoman said only that an emergency situation was reported at the Smyrna prison late Wednesday morning. The facility was placed on lockdown, as were all prisons in the state per DOC policy. Spokeswoman Jayme Gravell provided few details but described the situation as an isolated incident, adding that there was no threat to the public.

Brubaker!!!!!!!!

[Ted S.]

That was just on last night, and dammit, I forgot to DVR it.

[Crusty Juggler - #2]

*clap...clap...clap...clap...clap...*

[Mazakon]

Imam says Man Lied about his Mom Dying After Trump Ban

[rts]

I blame the taqiya.

[Fist of Etiquette]

Are you going to believe her? She tried to get Captain Kirk killed.

[DEG]

Chinese billionaire disappears from Hong Kong

Warning: auto-play video

A Chinese billionaire with Canadian citizenship has been seized from his apartment at the Four Seasons hotel in Hong Kong and taken to mainland China, a source familiar with the situation told CNN Wednesday.
Hong Kong police said they were investigating the disappearance of Xiao Jianhua, who was reported missing Friday. Police added that they had received a request Saturday from a family member to drop the case.
"We are still investigating and have reached out to the mainland authorities concerned," the statement sent to CNN Tuesday said.

Xiao is one of China's richest men and controls the Tomorrow Group, a massive holding company with stakes in banks, insurers and property developers. According to Hurun, which analyzes Chinese wealth, Xiao is 46 and has a net worth of $6 billion.

[grrizzly]

When I was in HK I read about a similar case in local papers. I've got an impression that it happens rather regularly.

[Zero Sum Game]

Don't they believe in bodyguards?

[DEG]

Xiao did:

The person familiar with the situation told CNN that there was a small scuffle between two dozen security officials and Xiao's own security detail, which usually numbers about eight bodyguards per shift.

[Slumbrew]

Ah, there you go with your facts and such. 8 bodyguards vs. 24 state agents isn't going to work out for the side with the bodyguards.

[Slumbrew]

Not sure bodyguards will be of use against agents of the state - i.e., Chinese Seal Team Six comes for you, a couple ex-cops aren't going to stop them.

[Volren]

A 2014 profile in the New York Times said Xiao was often surrounded by aides and retained a number of female body guards "who even wipe the sweat from his brow."

I have a feeling these bodyguards are less useful than most.

[Slumbrew]

well, I'm sure they have their uses. Just not that useful against a bunch of state thugs.

[DEG]

Lee Bo? He gets a mention in the article.

[grrizzly]

I think it was somebody else because he disappeared during a visit to the mainland China. It's probably much easier to make someone disappear in the mainland.

[DEG: sloopy's mom story soon?]

Ahh. Yes, probably much easier on the mainland.

It impresses me that Frank Dik?tter is a professor at the University of Hong Kong.

[Mazakon]

The Hill: GOP Bill would Abolish EPA

A House Republican is working on legislation that if passed would completely abolish the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA).

Freshman Rep. Matt Gaetz (R-Fla.) outlined his plan in a letter to colleagues obtain by The Hill and first reported by The Huffington Post.

"Today, the American people are drowning in rules and regulations promulgated by unelected bureaucrats; and the Environmental Protection Agency has become an extraordinary offender," Gaetz wrote in the letter soliciting support from lawmakers.

[Fist of Etiquette]

Freshmen congressmen are so cute at that age.

[OneOut]

But then like puppies and kittens they grow into....

[tarran]

The proggies in my facebook feed are frothing over this.

They are convinced that without the EPA, we'll be reduced to a mad max like existence.

[Libertarian]

A Mad Max existence just like we suffered before 1970, when it was established. (by one of our most liberal presidents, Nixon)

[Derp-o-Matic 5000]

I'm already stocking up on toxic waste to dump into the reservoir when the appointment gets confirmed.

[Krabappel]

Since Robby didn't post the PM links today, here is your daily Lena Dunham story that you didn't want to read.

[Crusty Juggler - #2]

Are cum shots really that edgy?

[SugarFree]

I mean, they've shown her taking a shit and Kirke getting fingerbanged while having a miscarriage. A little baby batter isn't that big of a deal.

[TheZeitgeist]

I'm sure the abortion episode will be only puppies and rainbows.

[Juice]

How do you know all this?

[Libertarian]

Awkward!!

[Pan Zagloba]

Dutch to hand count votes over hacking fears

All votes in next month's Dutch election will be counted by hand to counter the threat of hacking, the government says.

It follows reports that software used to tally results at regional and national level may not be secure.

Intelligence agencies have warned the French, German and Dutch elections could be vulnerable to manipulation by outside actors, including Russia.

Yes, I'm sure it's about Russia. Not, say about

The anti-immigrant and anti-EU Freedom Party led by Geert Wilders is leading in the polls and is predicted to win more than 30 seats in the 150-seat parliament.

[Pan Zagloba]

In the same article, this awesome sentence

Last year, Mr Wilders was convicted of inciting discrimination after coercing supporters to chant positively in response to his anti-Moroccan statement.

Totally what happened.

Wilders: "Do you want more or fewer Moroccans?"
Crowd: "Fewer, fewer!"

[Free Society]

Yeah that was sickening that the courts slapped him down with hate speech charges. By any standard of "hate speech" I've ever seen, that is by far the most tyrannical. My wife's family is voting for Wilders because of the outcome of that court case, as it happens.

[Juice]

convicted of inciting discrimination

Man, fuck a bunch of Europe.

[Hayeksplosives]

Yeah, yesterday when someone wrote in the lynx that the Netherlands scored 99 on the freedom index, my jaw dropped as the Wilders persecution (&prosecution;) immediately sprang to mind.

Maybe the 1 point drop was for the lack of free speech, but I'd weight it more like 50 pts.

Here's Wilders' opening statement.

[Free Society]

Yeah that was my thought. You can still get around the hacking BS with paper scanned ballots. To opt for hand counting is to opt for the least accountable and most error prone method of vote counting. It'll be much easier to intentionally miscount and hide the votes.

It bears remembering who Wilders is running against; the entirety of the left. The left will do anything for power.

[John Titor]

If they count votes as well as they count bills, they'll be fine.

[Ted S.]

It used to be the case in Taiwan (it may still be) that they would display each individual ballot and announce who was voted for on that ballot. Of course, they only run one election at a time in Taiwan and most other countries, so they don't have the complicated ballots we do in the US.

[Fatty Bolger]

Whose hands are doing the counting, I wonder?

[Zero Sum Game]

Linked this earlier today. Re-linked for the PM crowd.

That is one of the articles communists are spreading around to justify violence towards those they deem "fascists." The whole "punch a Nazi" is not just a meme. There are those who are trying their damnedest to incite as much violence as possible.

[Trshmnstr hates nurse beaters]

Just wait until they realize that these "Nazis" happen to really like and often carry firearms.

[John Titor]

Um, he does realize that his whole Peace of Westphalia argument justifies violence against progressives too right?

[Zero Sum Game]

Objection! Assuming cogency not in evidence.

[waffles]

Looking at the picture of the author, yeah, I'd fight that guy. A lot of words to say he wants to get his ass kicked.

[GILMORE?]

Are you sure that guy's posts aren't trolling?

He has sub-200 real followers. and he only become circulated in like the last few weeks, repeatedly citing these batshit lefty screeds.

[Zero Sum Game]

Yep, I'd considered the possibility of a false-flag. Problem is, the thing is making the rounds among legitimate believers in communism and someone may end up getting themselves killed as a result of following that advice.

[ant1sthenes]

Wait, why is a bunch of violent, hateful assholes getting themselves killed by being evil a problem?

[GILMORE?]

also - from what i can tell, he's correct in his basic summary that "Tolerance" isn't some moral-absolute - its an agreement to avoid open conflict for the sake of civil society.

i think the people who think his argument is some sort of justification for comitting violence in the name of "#resistingTrump" or whatever are just stupid, and would latch onto anything for that purpose.

[Zero Sum Game]

The people most encouraged by it are those who are against their ideological opponents exercising free speech rights. Committing violence against someone who has committed no violence and merely said things you don't like surely is immoral by all Western standards.

I'm not sure what to say or think about this. It could be every bit as dangerous a tool of radicalization as the what Islamic State is doing. Reaching out towards disaffected and dangerously suggestible people to spark real conflict, the sort of which we're all hoping can be defused before it becomes a serious problem for everyone. Maybe it will turn into nothing.

[GILMORE?]

Committing violence against someone who has committed no violence and merely said things you don't like surely is immoral by all Western standards.

Yes, but they rationalize it by claiming that their enemies words are violence, and that their own actual violence is "self-defense".

I'm not affirming their batshit rationales, i'm just saying they'll use anything to pretend that they have the moral high-ground.

[The Fusionist]

"Foreign Secretary Boris Johnson, a leading Leave campaigner, called the Commons result "absolutely momentous". Speaking on Facebook, he added: "We may be leaving the EU treaties. We are not leaving Europe."

"The UK would "forge a new identity" and make "an amazingly positive contribution" to Europe, he said."

It will be amazing, you're gonna love it, believe me.

[The Fusionist]

Someone already posted this - Donald Trump with upper-class British accent.

Here he is with a cockney accent.

[Pan Zagloba]

Boris basically is an English version of The Trump.

Here's some well-curated Boris.

[DOOMco's Ref Chipper]

I enjoyed this.

[Pan Zagloba]

Best part? He almost became PM of United Kingdom, until Michael Gove (my favorite British pol and only Thatcherite in the government) decided Boris couldn't hack it and threw his hat in the ring. P
arliamentary party then had a stitch-up, Gove got discarded in favor of a tough-sounding woman who folded couple days into contest, making May the only candidate and thus the winner.

[MiloMinderbinder]

I thought Farage was the English Trump

[Pan Zagloba]

Nah, Farage lacks that special brand of madness that both Trump and Boris possess.

[John Titor]

Trump wishes he could tear into establishment bureaucrats as well as Farage does. I see glimmers of Cicero in Farage's oratory.

[Crusty Juggler - #2]

Virtual Reality Can Make the Pain of Surgery Easier to Bear

He asked the patients to score their pain and anxiety during the procedure and in 2006 presented his results at the Medicine Meets Virtual Reality conference in California. The idea of using VR to reduce the distress of medical procedures was pioneered at the University of Seattle, Washington, where cognitive psychologist Hunter Hoffman and colleagues have developed a VR game called SnowWorld, to help patients endure wound care for severe burns. The researchers hoped that the illusion of being physically immersed in a three-dimensional computer-generated scene would move patients' attention away from their real-world pain. It worked: Hoffman's team has since shown in trials that SnowWorld reduces patients' pain during wound-care sessions by up to 50 percent, as well as reducing pain-related brain activity.

[Crusty Juggler - #2]

R is now being studied by teams around the world to relieve pain in medical situations such as wound care and dentistry, as well as in chronic conditions such as phantom-limb pain. But Mosso is still the only researcher to have published results on the use of VR during surgery. In one study of 140 patients he found that those using VR reported 24 percent less pain and anxiety during surgery than a control group. He got similar results in a smaller randomized trial.

Offering patients VR also halved the amount of sedation they needed, and in many cases avoided its use completely. That represents an important cost saving for the clinics in which Mosso works; sedative drugs such as fentanyl and midazolam are "very, very expensive," he says. He estimates that this reduced the cost of surgery by around 25 percent, although he hasn't yet crunched the data to give an exact figure. Cutting drug doses should also reduce complication risks and recovery times for patients. Mosso is planning further trials to test this, but in general, he says, patients can go home an hour after surgery if they receive only local anesthetic, whereas those who are sedated often need a whole day to recover.

[Half-Virtue, Half-Vice]

God bless human ingenuity.

[GILMORE?]

The civil war in Yemen erased a decade's worth of health gains, according to UNICEF.

I love it when UN agencies put out tone-deaf press releases bemoaning bad-news for their pet-issue

e.g., "Mass starvation in India having adverse effect on clean-water programs" Says UN Panel on Global Water Pollution. Poor disposal of human remains blamed

or

"Nuclear War seen as potential risk for improving alternative-gender-rights" etc.

things like that.

You'd think i was kidding, but they actually do this all the time.

[Slammer]

Metal

[bacon-magic stands w/sloop]

*devil horns

[bacon-magic stands w/sloop]

Something with a little more happy for you.

[Juice]

Mastodon? yawn

[Certified Public Asshat]

Childrearing Beliefs Were Best Predictor of Trump Support

Specifically, he asked whether it is more important to raise a child to be (1) respectful or independent; (2) obedient or self-reliant; (3) well-behaved or considerate; and (4) well-mannered or curious. It turned out that these questions were, for Republicans, by far the best predictors of who planned to vote for Trump?better than gender, age, race, income, religiosity, or anything else that was asked.

*snip*

Here are some of the numbers that came out of the study. Of those Republican voters who scored highest on authoritarianism (answered all four questions in the authoritarian direction), 47% said they would vote for Trump. That's an extraordinarily high percentage when you consider that, at that time, there were four other highly viable candidates in the Republican race (Cruz, Carson, Rubio, and Bush). The next highest vote getter from the highly authoritarian group was Cruz, with 17%. Among Republican voters who were lowest in authoritarianism (answered all questions in the non-authoritarian direction), only 18% preferred Trump. In other words, those Republicans highest in authoritarianism were more than two and a half times as likely to prefer Trump as were those lowest in authoritarianism.

Science!z

[Trshmnstr hates nurse beaters]

whether it is more important to raise a child to be (1) respectful or independent; (2) obedient or self-reliant; (3) well-behaved or considerate; and (4) well-mannered or curious

All of the above? I can't make heads or tails of these "dichotomies." I want a respectful, independent, obedient, self-reliant, well-behaved, considerate, well-mannered, curious child.

[The Fusionist]

Screw you, man, I'm not one of your quote-unquote respectful and well-behaved conformists, I'm independent and self-reliant...hey, give me some money, I'm broke.

[Juice]

I'd rather a kid not be that obedient.

[ant1sthenes]

I don't know if it's intended as a dichotomy as much as ranking preferences. I think most people would consider all of them to be positive to some extent.

[creech]

I heard someone on Fox saying the GOP only had 51 Senators (in re approving Gorsuch). I assume she was counting Sessions' seat as a vacancy. But isn't Alabama one of those states where the governor, Republican Bentley, able to immediately name someone as Senator until a special election is held?

[Hayeksplosives]

The WaPo has an editorial today saying that the Democrats should accept Gorsuch as a gift because he wants to limit Executive branch power, and that is sorely needed right now.

But they're too busy stomping their feet to recognize that.

[Derp-o-Matic 5000]

Principals, not principles

[ant1sthenes]

WAPO wrote that? Da fuck?

[Hayeksplosives]

Here's the link.

What I didn't notice the first time is the author: Radley Balko! Ha! Figures. I also couldn't even find it again without using my History. They aren't exactly featuring it.

[Kurmudgeonly Kristen]

Best Tweet I've read all day

A lawyer for the IRS's Office of Professional Responsibility sold meth out of his DC home, federal prosecutors say

[Juice]

I guess he didn't declare that income.

[Derp-o-Matic 5000]

Well, this is an interesting development (apologies if someone has posted already):

Man who claimed mom died in Iraq due to Trump travel ban lied.

[IceTrey]

Where's the story about the 8 year old little girl and US citizen the Seals killed?

[buybuydandavis]

Parliament approved a bill to permit Prime Minister Theresa May to trigger Article 50 and begin Brexit negotiations.

Will the Ruling Reptiles really let their people go?